Traction-wheel.



, PATENTED JULY 16, 1907. c. M. BELL & P. B. NOEL.

TRACTION WHEEL. APPLICATION 11.31) JULY so, 1906.

2 SHEETS- 833111 1. I

WITNESSES: JNI/ENTORS A I/TORNE Y5 ma "aw; PETERS 6a.. wasnmarnu m c.

. CARROLL M. BELL AND FREDERIOKELNOEL, OFGOODLAND, INDIANA.

TRACTION-WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. July 16, 1967.

Application filed July 30, 1906. Serial No. 328,427.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CARROLL M. BELL andFRno- ERICK E. NOEL, citizens ofthe United States, residing at Goodland, in the county of Newton andState of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Traction-Wheel, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to traction wheels and is particularly designedfor use in connection with automobiles of various constructions.

The object of the invention is to provide a wheel madeup principally ofmetallic sections so disposed as to produce a resilient or cushioningaction simulating that produced by pneumatic tires such as areordinarily employed.

Another object is to provide a wheel of this character which will not beinjured by sharp objects contacted thereby, and which is made up ofsections any one of which can be easily removed and replaced in theevent of wear or breakage.

A still further object is to provide a wheel of this character, theoperation of which will not be retarded or otherwise, affected byaccumulations of mud, etc., thereon. I Y

With the foregoing and other objects in View, the invention consists ofa circular ring constituting the rim of the wheel and to which thespokes are connected at desired intervals. Segmental blocks are mountedradially upon this rim, and so constructed as to slide longitudinallythereon, and between these blocks are disposed cushioning devices whichserve to hold the blocks normally spaced apart predetermined distances,but which will contract or be compressed whenever one or more of theblocks is subjected to inward pressure. Means are arranged within eachof the segmental blocks for limiting the longitudinal movement thereofin both directions. The tread of the wheel is made up of leather orother material which will not be easily affected by rough or sharpsurfaces over which the wheel may move, and is adapted to be held inplace by jaws formed integral with the blocks.

The invention also consists of certain other novel features ofconstruction and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter morefully described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings is shown the preferred form of theinvention.

In said drawings:Figure 1 is a side elevation of the wheel; Fig. 2 is asection through two of the segmental blocks; Fig. 3 is a section on theline '33, Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a section on the line 44, Fig. 2; and Fig. 5is a transverse section through the ring, showing one of the blocks inelevation.

1 is a hub of any desired construction and having spokes 2 radiatingtherefrom and riveted, bolted, or otherwise secured, as at 3, to acircular ring or rim 4 which is of uniform thickness. Rollers 5 arejournaled upon the rim 4 in alinement with each spoke 2. Each adapted toregister to form openings 9 through which the ring 4 loosely extends.These openings are of greater length than the width of the ring 4 sothat a certain amount of longitudinal movement of the block 6 upon thering is permitted. The two sections of the block are secured together asby'means of the bolts 10,

and formed upon the side edges of 'the outer ends of the two sections 7and 8 are inwardly extending flanges or jaws 11 and 12. A suitablenumber of recesses 13 are formed within the beveled or inclined faces ofthe blocks 6, and are for the purpose-hereinafter more fully set forth.Elongated recesses 14 are formed in the adjoining faces of the twosections 7 and Sand the rollers 5 and the ends of the spokes 2 areadapted to work within these recesses. The walls of said recesses 14 areinclined and rounded so that the rollers 5 can travel smoothly thereon.

' interposed between the blocks 6 are a number of segmental blocks 15,which are similar in construction, and each of which is made up of twosimilar sections 16 and 17 having registering elongated recesses 18therein in which are fitted longitudinally slotted guide strips 19. Thering 4 extends through the slots 20 in these strips and is connected tothe strips by means of bolts or rivets 21 extending therethrough.Recesses 22 are formed in the sections 16 and 17 at opposite sides ofthe recesses 18 and the ring 4 extends loosely through them. 7

These recesses are similar to the corresponding ones formed in thesections 7 and 8 so that longitudinal movement of each block 15 upon thering 4 is permitted. Rubber cushions 23 are formed upon the ends of eachguide 19 and a set-screw 24 is adjustably mounted within the inner endof each of the blocks 15, and serves to limit the longitudinal movementof said blocks upon the guide 19. The sections 16 and 17 are securedtogether by means of bolts 25 in the same manner as are the sections 7and 8 of the blocks 6, and inwardly extending flanges 26 are formed uponthe side edges of the outer end of each block 15 and are adapted toaline with the corresponding flanges or jaws on the blocks 6. Each block15 has recesses 27 in its beveled or inclined faces,

which are designed for the purpose hereinafter set forth. j r I A treador tire made up of a desired number of leather sections 28 is arrangedupon the outer ends of the blocks 6 and 15 and is adapted to fit snuglyupon the jaws or flanges 11, 12 and 26, and to extend thereunder, sothat after the sections constituting all of the blocks have beenfastened together, it becomes impossible to remove the tread sections.The blocks 6 and. 15 are all spaced apart desired distances by cushions29 which are interposed therebetween and formed of rubber or otherresilient material. Each cushion has projections 30 thereon which areadapted to fit within the recesses 13 and 27 so as to preventlongitudinal movement of the cushions independently of the blocksbetween which they are interposed. These cushions may be placed upon'the ring 4 in any preferred manner preferably by slitting the cushions.

As will be readily understood, when the wheel is subjected to-no inwardpressure the cushions 29 will hold all of the blocks spaced apart theirproper distances, and when so arranged, the guides 19 contact with theset or stop screw 24. When, however, one or more of the blocks issubjected to inward pressure, the cushions between said blocks arecompressed and the blocks are caused to move longitudinally upon theirguides 19 until limited by the outer cushions 23 on the guides cominginto contact with the outer ends of the recesses 18. This limit of themovement of the blocks, however, will rarely be reached unless a portionof the Wheel be subjected to sudden, violent pressure. Should inwardpressure be directed against any one of theblocks 6, said block will beretarded in its movement by the rollers 5 contacting with and travelingupon one of the inclined walls of the recess 14.

It will be seen that by interposing the cushions between the blocksconstituting the wheel, a result similar to that obtained by the use ofpneumatic tires is produced, with the further advantage that it becomesimpossible to injure the wheel by running over sharp or uneven surfaces.Moreover, by interposing the cushions between the blocks no intersticesare produced in which mud, gravel, etc., can accumulate and interferewith the resilient action of the wheel.

Should any one of the blocks become injured or worn, or should it bedesirable to replace the tread 28 in one or more of them, said block orblocks can be detached simply by removing the bolts 10 and 25.

The preferred form of the invention isset forth in the foregoingdescription, but we do not limit ourselves thereto, as we are aware thatmodifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit orsacrificing the advantages thereof, and we therefore reserve the rightto make such changes as fairly fall within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a wheel the combination with a rim; of a tire comprising aplurality of segmental blocks all portions of -said rim being concealedby the blocks and cushioning devices, each block surrounding andslidably mounted upon the rim, and cushioning devices interposed betweenthe blocks.

2. In a wheel the combination with a rim; of a tire comprising aplurality of segmental blocks, each block surrounding and slidablymounted upon the rim along the radius thereof, a tread engaged by theblocks, and cushioning devices interposed between the blocks andsurrounding the rim.

3. In a wheel the combination with a rim; of a tire comprising aplurality of segmental blocks, each block surrounding and movablelongitudinally upon the rim, and cushioning devices interposed betweenthe blocks surrounding and movable upon the rim.

4. In a wheel the combination with a non-yielding rim; of a tirecomprising sectional segmental blocks, each block surrounding andmovable longitudinally upon the rim, a plurality of tread sectionsengaged by each block, and combined spacing and cushioning devicesinterposed between the blocks and surrounding and movable upon the rim.

5. In a wheel the combination with a block; of a tire comprising aplurality of segmental blocks, each block surrounding and movable alongthe radius of the rim, combined spacing and cushioning devicesinterposed between the blocks and surrounding and movably mounted on therim, and means within each block for limiting the movement thereof.

6. In a wheel the combination with a rim; of a tire comprising aplurality of segmental blocks, each block surrounding the rim andmovable thereon along the radius thereof, said blocks completelyconcealing the rim.

7. In a wheel the combination with a rim of a plurality of segmentalblocks loosely connected, each block surround ing the rim and movablealong the radius thereof, combined spacing and cushioning devicesinterposed between the blocks and surrounding and movable upon the rim,and means within the blocks for independently limiting the movementthereof.

8. In a wheel the combination with a rim of a plurality of segmentalblocks loosely connected, each block surrounding the rim and movablealong the radius thereof, combined spacing and cushioning devicesinterposed between the blocks and surrounding and movable upon the rim,means mounted within the blocks for independently limiting themovement'thereof, and a cushioning device within one of the blocks. I

9. In a wheel the combination with a nonyielding rim; of a tirecomprising a plurality of segmental blocks, each block surrounding therim and movable radially thereon, and combined spacing and cushioningdevices interposed between and engaging the blocks, said devicessurrounding and movable upon the rim. 7

10. In a wheel the combination with a rim; of a tire comprisingsegmental blocks, each block surrounding and movable radially upon therim and consisting of oppositely disposed recessed sections, and meansfor securing'the sections together, and combined spacing and cushioningdevices interposed between and engaging the blocks, each of said devicessurrounding and being movable upon the rim.

'11. In a wheel, a tire comprising a plurality of sectional segmentalblocks, combined cushioning and spacing devices interposed between andengaging the blocks, jaws integral with the block sections, a sectionaltread inter posed between and engaged by the jaws, and means forclamping the jaws upon the tread sections.

12. In a wheel, a rim comprising a ring, segmental blocks movableradially upon the ring, each block consisting of oppositely disposedrecessed sections and means for securing the sections together, combinedspacing and cushioning devices interposed between and engaging theblocks, a guide upon the ring and within the recesses in one of theblocks, and means in said block for contacting with the guide to limitthe movement of the block.

13. In a wheel, a rim comprising a ring, segmental blocks movableradially upon the ring, each block consisting of oppositely disposedrecessed sections and means for securing the sections together, combinedspacing and cushioning devices interposed between and engaging theblocks, a guide upon the ring and within the recesses in one of theblocks, means in said block for contacting with the guide to limit themovement of the block, and cushions upon the guide.

1-1. In a wheel, the combination of a hub, spokes radiating therefromand a ring secured to the spokes; of a plurality of radially movableblocks loosely mounted upon the ring, the end of each spoke beingsurrounded by a block, rollers upon the ring adjacent to each spoke,each roller being loosely inclosed within one of the blocks, guidessecured to the ring, each guide being disposed within one of the blocks,stop devices within the blocks for contacting with the guides, andcombined spacing and cushioning de vices interposed between the blocks.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own, we have heretoaflixed ourv signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

CARROLL M. BELL.

FREDERICK E. NOEL.

F Witnesses THOMAS E. HARTLEY, Mosns MORIN.

